Chapter 8: The Growth of a National Economy

(1800—1850)“Our Manifest Destiny is to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions” -- John O’Sullivan

I. Urban & Industrial Patterns in the North

A. The Transportation Revolution*Effect of geography in North… Connection of the North and West1. Roads: Private turnpikes, Public Interstate… Cumberland Road (1833) from MD to OH2. Steam Power: Fulton’s Clermont3. Canals: Erie Canal4. Railroads: B & O Railroad

* Canals, RR: connect North and West5. Postal Service: mail, newspapers, magazines….

I. Industry in the North

B. The Rise of Manufacturing1. The Lowell Labor System (1813)2. Mass Production & Interchangeable Parts (Whitney)3. Free Enterprise System

C. The Rise of the Banking Industry*Spur Economic growth w/ loans, capital… problem is w/ state banks… Panics in 1819, 1837, 1839

I. Industry in the North

D. Growth of Cities*Immigrants, factories… gap b/w rich & poor… unsanitary

E. Immigrants*1820-60… N & W Europe… Settled in N & W in America…Faced Difficulties: Nativism & “Know Nothings”

F. Middle Class and Working Class Life*Separate of men & women… defined by home… growth of public schools

II. Patterns of Southern Development

*Cotton Belt: South Carolina to Texas… Geography!A. Growth of Cotton Economy: “King Cotton”

1. Climate/topography: favored plantations2. Rice, tobacco, cotton3. Whitney’s cotton gin (1793): removed seeds: increased production of cotton & need for slaves4. Also spurred west migration w/ slaves5. Cotton: ½ of all national exports6. South: depend on N for cotton market & manufactured goods

II. Southern Development

B. The Slave System1. Extent2. Life Under Slavery

* Treatment… Slave Codes…3. Resistance

* Various forms… Denmark Vesey (1822)… Nat Turner (1831)… HW

II. Southern Development

C. The South on the Defensive1. “Peculiar Institution”… Set south apart2. John C. Calhoun: not just necessary but “good”

* Existed throughout history* Sanctioned in Bible: “out of God’s graces”* Important for South’s prosperity* Better than Africa* Better than North’s “wage slavery”* Mentally inferior

II. Southern Development

D. Effect of Slavery on the South1. Craftsmen/ Farmers: lowered their wages2. Immigrants: avoided the South3. Money: tied into slavery, not industry/commerce4. Remained Agricultural

* Import manufactured goods; few cities; stagnate economy5. View of North

*Resent… thought N used govt for own benefit

III. Territorial Expansion: Manifest Destiny

A. Manifest Destiny *Definition… Expansion… Conflicts w/

Mexicans, Native Americans, and Slavery Questions… O’Sullivan

B. People and Westward Expansion•Trail blazers and settlers traveled westward along the Santa Fe, Oregon, and Mormon Trails.

III. West: Manifest Destiny

C. Lands Acquired b/w 1803—18531. Louisiana Purchase (1803)2. Florida: Purchase & Annexation (1819)

* Adams-Onis Treaty

C. Lands Acquired by the US

3. Texas: Westward Expansion or Eastern Invasion?Americans In Texas• Mexico: newly independent from Spain (1821)• Americans: invited to settle in N. province of MX: Texas• Stephen Austin: led group of several hundred• Fertile land/ warm climate: perfect for cotton• 1830s: friction b/w Americans & Mexicans

1. Mexican govt: not want slavery; claimed everyone had to be Catholic

2. Disliked independent spirit of the “Texans”

Texas Revolution (1836)Inspired by American Revolution, Texans rebelled…

“Remember the Alamo”• Heavily fortified church mission• Fortified to slow down Mexican Army and allow Texans to

build up own army• Overwhelmed by MX army led by General Santa Anna• 13 Days: Bloody Massacre: rally cry to inspire the Texans

Texas Revolution (cont)Battle of San Jacinto• Sam Houston : Commander of Texas Army• Won great victory at San Jacinto: able to capture Santa Anna• Settlers proclaimed Republic of Texas (“Lone Star

Republic”)• Houston: elected as president• Requested annexation to US

Texas Annexation• South favored the annexation of Texas• North: feared the extension of slavery; would also increase

the # of southern votes in the House• Controversy would delay annexation• Key Issue in Election of 1844• Eventually admitted by joint resolution in 1845.

4. Mexican War & Cession

(1846 – 1848)

Causes of the Mexican War

1. Southern boundary dispute b/w Texas and Mexico

Texas: Rio Grande (south) ; MX: Nueces R (north)

2. Mexico: stopped payments to American citizens

3. California: settlers causing trouble!

4. Mexico: resented American annexation of Texas

5. Manifest Destiny & Expansion

A Short War• President James Polk: deliberately

provoked war• Sent troops into disputed territory (b/w

rivers)• Aim: gain MX provinces of NMX and

CAL and to make the war as short as possible

• War: showcased American military superiority

• Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)1. Rio Grande: southern boundary of US

2. Mexican Cession: MX gave up CAL and NMX provinces

(NV, Utah, AZ, NMX, part of Colorado and Wyoming)

3. US: agreed to pay MX $15 million & pay debts owed to Americans

A Controversial War

• After war broke out, national opinion was divided

• Expansionists: opportunity to acquire more land… Manifest Destiny!

• Northerners: feared the future addition of more slave states

• Congressman Abraham Lincoln: “war of conquest”

C. Lands Acquired by the US

5. Gadsden Purchase (1853)• US paid MX $10 million • Acquired small strip of land on southern boundary of Arizona

and New Mexico• Provided favorable RR route to California• Precedent: Louisiana Purchase

C. Lands Acquired by the US

6. Oregon Settlement (1846)• Both US and Britain claimed Oregon Territory and both

occupied• James Polk: “54’40 or Fight”: presidential slogan• As president… compromised• Extension of existing boundary• Acquired Oregon, Washington, Idaho and parts of Montana

and Wyoming

James PolkIf judge by ability to keep promises,

Polk was most successful:

• Acquired California from Mexico• Settled Oregon dispute• Lowered tariffs• Established a sub-treasury• Retired from office after one term